NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
July 15, 2025
County of Hawaiʻi
Office of Housing and Community Development
1990 Kinoʻole Street, Ste 102
Hilo, Hawaiʻi 96720
(808) 961-8379
On or about August 5, 2025, the County of Hawaiʽi Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of $1,550,000.00 of 2025 Community Development Block Grant program funds authorized under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, to undertake a project known as ʽŌuli ʽEkahi Rental Housing Wastewater Treatment Plant and Property Improvements which includes the acquisition and installation of a package wastewater treatment plant, construction of a trash enclosure, drainage improvements, interior renovations, and building modernization at the low-income housing project located at 62-2600 ʽŌuli ʽEkahi Place in Kamuela, Hawaii.
The activities proposed are categorically excluded under HUD regulations 24 CRF Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is on file at the County of Hawaiʽi’s Office of Housing and Community Development, 1990 Kinoʻole Street Ste 102, Hilo Hawaiʻi 96720 and 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building B, 2nd Floor, Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi 96740 and may be examined weekdays 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM. The ERR will also be posted online at https://cpd.hud.gov/cpd-public/environmental-reviews.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the OHCD, Grants Management Division via email at ohcdcdbg@hawaiicounty.gov. Comments must reference the project by name: ʽŌuli ʽEkahi Rental Housing Wastewater Treatment Plant and Property Improvements project. All comments received by August 1, 2025 will be considered by the OHCD prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION
The OHCD certifies to HUD that Kehaulani M. Costa in her capacity as Housing Administrator consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the County of Hawaiʻi to use the 2025 CDBG Program funds.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the OHCD’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the OHCD; (b) the OHCD has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR 58.76) and shall be emailed to the HUD Honolulu Field Office at cpdhonolulu@hud.gov. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
County of Hawaiʻi
Office of Housing and Community Development
By: Kehaulani M. Costa
C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. Mayor, County of Hawaiʻi
